Vayu Purana

क्रौञ्चद्वीपस्य विस्ताराद् द्विगुणस्तस्य विस्तरः। परिवार्य समुद्रं स दधिमण्डोदकं स्थितः ।। ४९.

Śākadvīpa is twice as wide as Krauñcadvīpa, and it is encircled by the ocean of Dadhimaṇḍa water.

तत्र पुण्या जनपदाश्चिराच्च म्रियते जनः। कुत एव तु दुर्भिक्षञ्चराव्याधिभयं कुतः ।। ४९.

There, the people are virtuous, and they live long lives; there is no famine, nor is there fear of wild animals or disease.

तत्रापि पर्वताः शुभ्राः सप्तैव मणिभूषिताः। रत्नाकरास्तथा नद्यस्तासां नामानि मे श्रृणु ।। ४९.

There too are seven shining mountains adorned with jewels, and mines of gems, as well as rivers—listen to their names from me.

देवर्षिगन्धर्वयुतः प्रथमो मेरुरुच्यते। प्रागायतः स सौवर्ण उदयो नाम पर्वतः ।। ४९.

The first is Meru, attended by gods, sages, and gandharvas; to the east is the golden mountain called Udaya.

तत्र मेघास्तु वृष्ट्यर्थं प्रभवन्ति च यान्ति च। तस्यापरेण सुमहान् जलधारो महागिरिः ।। ४९.

There, clouds arise and depart for the sake of rain; beyond that is the great mountain Jaladhāra, a massive peak.

तस्मान्नित्यमुपादत्ते वासवः परमं जलम्। ततो वर्षं प्रभवति वर्षाकाले प्रजास्विह ।। ४९.

From there, Indra always draws the supreme water, and from that, rain arises in the rainy season for the beings here.

तस्यापरे रैवतको यत्र नित्यं प्रतिष्ठिता । रेवती दिवि नक्षत्रं पितामहकृतो गिरिः ।। ४९.

Beyond that is Raivataka, where the constellation Revatī is always established in the sky; this mountain was created by the Grandfather.

तस्यापरेण सुमहान् श्यामो नाम महागिरिः। तस्माच्छयामत्वमापन्नाः प्रजाः पूर्वमिमाः किल ।। ४९.

Beyond that lies the great mountain named Shyama; from it, indeed, these ancient peoples first acquired their dark complexion.

तस्यापरेण रजतो महानस्तो गिरिः स्मृतः। तस्यापरेणाम्बिकेयो दुर्गः शैलो हिमाचितः ।। ४९.८२ . आम्बिकेयात्परो रम्यः सर्वौषधिसमन्वितः । स चैव केशरीत्युक्तो यतो वायुः प्रवायति ।। ४९.

Beyond that is the great mountain known as Rajata; and further on is the Ambikeya, a fortress-like peak covered in snow. Beyond Ambikeya is the delightful mountain called Keshari, filled with every kind of medicinal herb, from which the wind blows.

श्रृणुध्वं नामतस्तानि यथावदनुपूर्वशः। उदयस्योदयं वर्षं जलदं नाम विश्रुतम् ।। ४९.

Hear now, in proper order, the names of those regions: the land east of Udaya is renowned as Jalada.

द्वितीयं जलधारस्य सुकुमारमिति स्मृतम्। रैवतस्य तु कौमारं श्यामस्य तु मणीचकम् ।। ४९.

The second region of Jaladhara is called Sukumara; that of Raivata is Kaumara, and that of Shyama is known as Manichaka.

अस्तस्यापि शुभं वर्षं विज्ञेयं कुसुमोत्तरम्। आम्बिकेयस्य मोदाकं केसरेषु महाद्रुमम् ।। ४९.

The auspicious region of Asta is called Kusumottara; that of Ambikeya is Modaka, and in Keshari it is Mahadruma.

द्वीपस्य परिमाणञ्च ह्रस्वदीर्घत्वमेव च। शाकद्वीपेन विख्यातस्तस्य मध्ये वनस्पतिः । शाको नाम महावृक्षस्तस्य पूजां प्रयुञ्जते ।। ४९.

The extent and dimensions of the island are well known as Shakadvipa; in its center stands a great tree named Shaka, which is worshipped.

एतेन देवगन्धर्वाः सिद्धाश्च सह चारणैः। विहरन्ति रमन्ते च दृश्यमानाश्च तैः सह ।। ४९.

There, the gods, Gandharvas, Siddhas, and Charanas dwell and take delight, visible together with them.

तत्र पुण्या जनपदाश्चातुर्वर्णसमन्विताः। तेषु नद्यश्च सप्तैव प्रतिवर्षं समुद्रगाः । विद्धि नाम्नश्च ताः सर्वा गङ्गास्ताः सप्तधा स्मृताः ।। ४९.

There are blessed settlements inhabited by the four social orders; in them flow seven rivers, each year reaching the ocean. Know that all these are called by name the sevenfold Ganga.

प्रथमा सुकुमारीति गङ्गा शिवजला तथा। अनु तप्ता च नाम्नैव नदी सम्परिकीर्त्तिता ।। ४९.

The first is called Sukumari, also known as Shivajala; next is the river named Tapta.

कुमारी नामतः सिद्धा द्वितीया सा पुनः सती । नन्दा च पार्वती चैव तृतीय परिकीर्त्तिता ।। ४९.

The second, called Kumari, is considered accomplished and again chaste; the third is named Nanda and Parvati.

शिवेतिका चतुर्थी स्यात् त्रिदिवा च पुनः स्मृता। इक्षुश्च पञ्चमी ज्ञेया तथैव च पुनः क्रतुः ।। ४९.

The fourth is called Shivetika, also remembered as Tridiva; the fifth is known as Ikshu, and again as Kratu.

धेनुका च मृता चैव षष्ठी संपरिकीर्त्तिता। एताः सप्त महागङ्गाः प्रतिवर्षं शिवोदकाः। भावयन्ति जनं सर्वं शाकद्वीपनिवासिनम् ।। ४९.

The sixth, called Dhenuka and also Mrita, is so named; these seven great Gangas, filled with Shiva's waters, nourish all the inhabitants of Shakadvipa each year.

अनुगच्छन्ति तास्त्वन्या नदीनद्यः सहस्रशः। बहूदक परिस्रावा यतो वर्षति वासवः ।। ४९.

Along with these, thousands of other rivers and streams, abundant in water, flow wherever Indra causes rain.

तासान्तु नामधेयानि परिमाणं तथैव च। न शक्यं परिसंख्यातुं पुण्यास्ताः सरिदुत्तमाः। ताः पिबन्ति सदा हृष्टा नदीर्जनपदास्तु ते ।। ४९.

Their names and measurements cannot be fully counted; those sacred, excellent rivers are always drunk joyfully by the people of those lands.

शंशपायन विस्तीर्णो द्वीपोऽसौ चक्रसंस्थितः। नदीजलैः प्रतिच्छन्नः पर्वतैश्चाभ्रसन्निभैः ।। ४९.

That island, called Shamshapayāna, is vast and shaped like a wheel, covered with river waters and mountains resembling clouds.

सर्वधातुविचित्रैश्च मणि विद्रुमभूषितैः। पुरैश्च विविधाकारैः स्फीतैर्जनपदैरपि ।। ४९.

It is adorned with diverse minerals, gems, and coral, with splendid cities of various forms and prosperous regions.

वृक्षैः पुष्पफलोपेतैः समन्ताद्धनधान्यवान्। क्षीरोदेन समुद्रेण सर्वतः परिवारितः। शाकद्वीपस्तु विस्तारात् समेन तु समन्ततः ।। ४९.

Surrounded on all sides by the Milk Ocean, Shakadvipa is rich in trees bearing flowers and fruits, abundant in wealth and grain, and equal in extent on every side.

तस्मिन् जनपदाः पुण्याः पर्वतान्तरिते शुभाः । वर्णाश्रमसमाकीर्णा देशास्ते सप्त वै स्मृताः ।। ४९.

There, blessed peoples dwell in auspicious regions separated by mountains; those seven lands are known to be filled with all classes and stages of life.

न सङ्करश्च तेष्वस्ति वर्णाश्रमकृतः व्कचित् । धर्मस्य चाव्यभीचारादेकान्तसुखिताः प्रजाः ।। ४९.

Among them there is no intermixture, nor does anyone perform the duties of caste or stage of life; because of their unwavering adherence to righteousness, the people are entirely content.

न तेषु लोभो माया वा ईर्ष्यासूयाऽधृतिः कुतः। विपर्ययो न तेष्वस्ति एतत् स्वाभाविकं स्मृतम् ।। ४९.

Among them there is no greed, nor delusion, nor envy, nor jealousy, nor lack of resolve; there is no contrary behavior among them—this is considered their natural state.

करोत्पत्तिर्नतेष्वस्ति न दण्डो न च दण्डकाः। स्वधर्मेणैव धर्मज्ञास्ते रक्षन्ति परस्परम् ।। ४९.

There is no production of evil among them, nor punishment, nor punishers; knowing righteousness, they protect one another by their own proper conduct.

एतावदेव शक्यं वै तस्मिन् द्वीपे निवासिनाम्। पुष्करं सप्तमं द्वीपं प्रवक्ष्यामि निबोधत ।। ४९.

This much can be said about the inhabitants of that continent; now I will describe the seventh continent, Puṣkara—listen.